Use of phenol-mercaptocarboxylic acid esters as stabilizers for synthetic elastomers

ABSTRACT

The phenol-mercaptocarboxylic acid esters used for stabilizing elastomers are those of the formula ##STR1## wherein R is C 1  -C 18  Alkyl.

This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 919,605 filed Oct. 14, 1986, now abandoned, which in turn was a continuation of Ser. No. 547,165 filed Oct. 31, 1983 now abandoned, which in turn was a continuation of Ser. No. 503,482 dated June 13, 1983, now abandoned, which in turn was a continuation of Ser. No. 430,643 filed Sept. 30, 1982, now abandoned which in turn was a continuation in-part of Ser. No. 347,399 filed Feb. 10, 1982, now abandoned.

The invention relates to the use of particular phenol-mercaptocarboxylic acid esters for stabilising organic polymers and lubricants.

German Patent Specification No. 1,288.604, which has already very broadly claimed phenol-mercaptocarboxylic acid esters and their use as stabilisers, may be quoted as prior art. These phenol-mercaptocarboxylic acid esters are those of the formula a or b: ##STR2## in which n is an integer from 1 to 4, R¹ and R² are identical or different, straight-chain or branched alkyl groups having 1 to 4 C atoms, R³ is a linear, branched or cyclic alkyl group, a benzyl group, a thioether group or an ether group (if n=1), or an alkylene group (if n=2 to 4) having a total of 1 to 20 C atoms, and X is a straight-chain or branched alkylene group having 1 or 2 C atoms.

In the said patent specification, specific compounds of the formula a, in which R¹ and R² are the methyl group, are emphasised as being particularly advantageous in their action as stabilisers.

It has now been found that very specific esters of this group of products protected generically by the above German patent specification stand out particularly advantageously in their action as stabilisers and, in particular, are distinctly superior to the products of the formula a, mentioned in German Patent Specification 1,288,604, in which R¹ and R² are methyl.

The invention relates to the use of phenol-mercaptocarboxylic acid esters of the formula I ##STR3## in which n is an integer from 1 to 4, R¹ and R² are identical or different and are C₁ -C₅ -alkyl or C₅ -C₈ -cycloalkyl, and X is methylene or ethylene, and in which R³ in the case where n=1, is a hydrocarbon radical which may contain branched molecular groups and may contain --O-- or --S-- bridges, such as alkyl having in each case a total of 1 to 18 C atoms, C₅ -C₆ -cycloalkyl or benzyl, and, in the case where n=2 to 4, is a straight-chain or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkylene radical or thioalkylene radical having a total of 1 to 8 C atoms, for stabilising organic elastomers against decomposition by oxygen and heat.

R¹ and R² can be, for example: methyl, isopropyl, sec.-butyl, tert.-butyl, cyclopentyl or cyclohexyl.

In the case where n=1, R³ can be, for example, the following radicals: -CH₃, -C₂ H₅, isobutyl, n-hexyl, n-octyl, 2-ethylhexyl, n-decyl, n-dodecyl, n-octadecyl, 3-thia-heptyl or 3-thia-5-methylhexyl.

In the case where n =2 to 4, R³ can be, for example, the following groups: --CH₂ --, ethylene, tetramethylene, hexamethylene, 3-thia-pentylene, ##STR4##

A preferred embodiment of the invention is the use, as stabilisers for elastomers, of those compounds of the formula I in which n=1 and R³ is a hydrocarbon radical which may contain branched molecular groups and may contain --O-- or --S-- bridges, such as alkyl having in each case a total of 4 to 12 C atoms.

A further preferred embodiment of the invention is the use, as stabilisers for elastomers, of those compounds of the formula I which contain one or more of the following radicals as defined in each case: R¹ : tert.-butyl, R² : --CH₃ or tert.-butyl, X: methylene and R³ : C₄ -C₁₂ alkyl.

A further preferred embodiment of the invention is the use, as stabilisers, of those compounds of the formula I in which n=2 and R³ is C₂ -C₆ alkylene. ##STR5## is particularly suitable for use as a stabiliser according to the invention. This use also represents a particular preferred embodiment of the invention.

The stabilisers used according to the invention are added to the organic material to be stabilised in amounts of 0.01 to 10%, preferably 0.05 to 0.5%, based on the total weight of the material to be stabilised.

According to the invention, the following synthetic elastomers are stabilised in particular:

(a) polydienes, preferably polybutadiene, polyisoprene or polychloroprene,

(b) block polymers, preferably the styrene/butadiene/styrene, styrene/isoprene/styrene or styrene/(ethylene-propylene)/ styrene types, and

(c) acrylonitrile/butadiene polymers.

If appropriate, these polymers are in the form of latices and can be stabilised as such.

This invention also relates to organic elastomers which contain a compound of the formula I as a stabiliser.

The preparation of the compounds of the formula I is known and has already been described, for example, in German Patent Specification 1,288,604.

The invention also relates to compounds of the formula III ##STR6## in which n is 1 or 2, R¹ is secondary butyl or tert.-butyl and X is methylene or ethylene, and in which R³, in the case where n=1, is a hydrocarbon radical which may contain branched molecular groups and may contain --O-- or --S-- bridges, such as alkyl having in each case a total of 5 to 12 C atoms, and, in the case where n=2, is a straight-chain or branched alkylene radical having a total of 2 to 6 C atoms or a thiaalkylene radical having 2 to 4 C atoms. In the case where n=1, R³ can be, for example, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-octyl, 2-ethylhexyl, n-decyl, n-dodecyl, 3-thiaheptyl and 3-thia-5-methylhexyl. In the case where n=2, R³ can be, for example, the following groups: ethylene, tetramethylene, hexamethylene and 3-thiapentylene.

Those compounds of the formula III in which n=1 and which contain one or more of the following radicals as defined in each case: R¹ : tert.-butyl, X: methylene and R³ : C₅ -C₁₂ -alkyl, constitute a preferred embodiment.

Compounds of the formula III in which n=2 and R¹ is tert.-butyl, X is methylene and R³ is C₂ -C₆ -alkylene are also preferred.

Quite concrete and particularly preferred compounds of the formula III have the following structures: ##STR7##

The following substances are further examples of the compounds of the formula III according to the invention: ##STR8##

The compounds of the formula III according to the invention are particularly suitable for stabilising organic polymers and lubricants against degradation by oxygen and heat.

The invention thus also relates to the use of these compounds for stabilising organic polymers and lubricants, and also to organic polymers and lubricants containing in each case a compound of the formula III as a stabiliser against decomposition by oxygen and heat.

More particularly the invention relates to stabilised compositions characterized by incorporating into synthetic elastomers selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene, polyisoprene, polychloroprene, styrene/butadiene/ styrene block polymers, styrene/isoprene/styrene block polymers, styrene/(ethylene-propylene)/styrene block polymers and acrylonitrile/butadiene polymers 0,01 to 10%, based on the total weight of the material to be stabilised, of a phenol-mercapto-carboxylic acid ester of the formula IV ##STR9## wherein R is C₁ -C₁₈ alkyl.

R can be, for example, methyl, ethyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, tert.-butyl, n-hexyl, n-octyl, 2-ethylhexyl, n-decyl, n-dodecyl, isotridecyl, n-octadeyl. R is preferably branched C₄ -C₁₈ Alkyl, expecially 2-ethylhexyl (e.g. in formula II) or isotridecyl (e.g. in formula IIa). The isotridecyl residue is derived from tridecyl-alcohol obtained by oxosynthesis with tetrapropylene.

The compounds of the formula I used according to the invention are suitable for stabilising the following polymers:

1. Polymers of monoolefins and diolefins, for example polyethylene (which may be crosslinked), polypropylene, polyisobutylene, polybut-1-ene, polymethylpent-1-ene, polyisoprene or polybutadiene, and polymers of cycloolefins, for example of cyclopentene or norbornene.

2. Mixtures of the polymers mentioned under (1), for example mixtures of polypropylene with polyethylene or with polyisobutylene.

3. Copolymers of monoolefins and diolefins with one another or with other vinyl monomers, for example ethylene/propylene copolymers, propylene/but-1-ene copolymers, propylene/butadiene copolymers, isobutylene/isoprene copolymers, ethylene/alkyl acrylate copolymers, ethylene/alkyl methacrylate copolymers, ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymers or ethylene/acrylic acid copolymers and their salts (ionomers), and terpolymers of ethylene with propylene and with a diene such as hexadiene, dicyclopentadiene or ethylidenenorbornene.

4. Polystyrene.

5. Copolymers of styrene or α-methylstyrene with dienes or acrylic derivatives, for example styrene/butadiene, styrene/acrylonitrile, styrene/alkyl methacrylate or styrene/acrylonitrile/methacrylate; high impact strength mixtures of styrene copolymers and of another polymer, for example a polyacrylate, a diene polymer of an ethylene/propylene/diene terpolymer; and block copolymers of styrene, for example styrene/butadiene/styrene, styrene/isoprene/styrene, styrene/ethylene-butylene/styrene or styrene/ethylenepropylene/styrene.

6. Graft copolymers of styrene, for example styrene grafted onto polybutadiene, styrene and acrylonitrile grafted onto polybutadiene, styrene and maleic anhydride grafted onto polybutadiene, styrene and alkyl acrylates or alkyl methacrylates grafted onto polybutadiene, styrene and acrylonitrile grafted onto ethylene/propylene/diene terpolymers, styrene and acrylonitrile grafted onto polyalkyl acrylates or polyalkyl methacrylates, or styrene and acrylonitrile grafted onto acrylate/butadiene copolymers, and their mixtures with the copolymers mentioned under (5), for example those known as so-called ABS, MBS, ASA or AES polymers.

7. Halogen-containing polymers, for example polychloroprene, chlorinated rubber or chlorinated or chlorosulfonated polyethylene, in particular polymers of halogen-containing vinyl compounds, for example polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polyvinyl fluoride or polyvinylidene fluoride, and their copolymers such as vinyl chloride/vinylidene chloride, vinyl chloride/vinyl acetate or vinylidene chloride/vinyl acetate.

8. Polymers derived from α,β-unsaturated acids and from their derivatives, such as polyacrylates and polymethacrylates, polyacrylamides and polyacrylonitriles.

9. Copolymers of the monomers mentioned under (8) with one another or with other unsaturated monomers, for example acrylonitrile/butadiene copolymers, acrylonitrile/alkyl acrylate copolymers, acrylonitrile/vinyl chloride copolymers or acrylonitrile/alkyl methacrylate/butadiene terpolymers.

10. Polymers derived from unsaturated alcohols and amines or from their acyl derivatives or acetals, such as polyvinyl alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, stearate, benzoate or maleate, polyvinylbutyral, polyallyl phthalate or polyallylmelamine.

11. Homopolymers and copolymers of cyclic ethers, such as polyalkylene glycols, polyethylene oxide, polypropylene oxide or their copolymers with bis-glycidyl ethers.

12. Polyacetals such as polyoxymethylene, and polyoxymethylenes which contain comonomers, for example ethylene oxide.

13. Polyphenylene oxides and sulfides.

14. Polyurethanes derived from polyethers, polyesters and polybutadienes with terminal hydroxyl groups on the one hand and aliphatic or aromatic polyisocyanates on the other hand, and their precursors.

15. Polyamides and copolyamides derived from diamines and dicarboxylic acids and/or from aminocarboxylic acids or the corresponding lactams, such as polyamide-4, polyamide-6, polyamide-6,6, polyamide-6,10, polyamide-11, polyamide-12, poly-2,4,4-trimethylhexamethylene terephthalamide, poly-m-phenylene isophthalamide and their copolymers with polyethers, for example with polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol or polytetramethylene glycol.

16. Polyureas, polyimides and polyamide-imides.

17. Polyesters derived from dicarboxylic acids and dialcohols and/or from hydroxycarboxylic acids or the corresponding lactones, such as polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, poly-1,4-dimethylolcyclohexane terephthalate or polyhydroxybenzoates, and block polyether/esters derived from polyethers with hydroxyl end groups.

18. Polycarbonates.

19. Polysulfones and polyether-sulfones.

20. Crosslinked polymers derived from aldehydes on the one hand and phenols, urea or melamine on the other hand, such as phenol/formaldehyde, urea/formaldehyde and melamine/formaldehyde resins.

21. Drying and non-drying alkyd resins.

22. Unsaturated polyester resins derived from copolyesters of saturated and unsaturated dicarboxylic acids with polyhydric alcohols, and vinyl compounds as crosslinking agents, and also their halogen-containing, slow-burning modifications.

23. Crosslinkable acrylic resins derived from substituted acrylic acid esters, for example from epoxyacrylates, urethane-acrylates or polyester-acrylates.

24. Alkyd resins, polyester resins and acrylate resins crosslinked with melamine resins, urea resins, polyisocyanates or epoxide resins.

25. Crosslinked epoxide resins derived from polyepoxides, for example from bis-glycidyl ethers or from cycloaliphatic diepoxides.

26. Natural polymers such as cellulose, natural rubber and gelatine, and their derivatives chemically modified to give homologous polymers, such as cellulose acetates, propionates and butyrates, or the cellulose ethers such as methylcellulose.

The concentration of the stabilisers used according to the invention in the polymers is 0.01 to 10%, preferably 0.05 to 0.5%, based on the total weight of the material to be stabilised.

The stabilisers employed according to the invention can also be used together with other known additives.

Examples of further additives with which it is possible to employ the stabilisers which can be used according to the invention are: 2,6-di-tert.-butyl-4-methylphenol, 4,4'-thio-bis-(6-tert.-butyl-3-methylphenol), 2,2'-methylene-bis(6-tert.-butyl-4-methylphenol), 2,2'-methylene-bis(4-methyl-6-cyclohexylphenol), 1,1-bis-(5-tert.-butyl-4-hydroxy-2-methylphenyl)-butane, 1,3,5-tri-(3,5-di-tert.-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)-2,4,6-trimethylbenzene, di-(3,5-di-tert.-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl) sulfide, stearyl 3-(3,5-di-tert.-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-propionate, 1,6-hexanediol bis-3-(3,5-di-tert.-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-propionate, tris(-nonylphenyl) phosphite, distearoyl-pentaerythritol diphosphite, tris-(2,4-di-tert.-butylphenyl) phosphite, di-(2,4-di-tert.-butylphenyl)-pentaerythritol diphosphite and tetraskis-(2,4-di-tert.-butylphenyl) 4,4'-biphenylylenediphosponite.

The compounds of the formula III are active, even in very small amounts, as antioxidants, corrosion inhibitors and high-pressure additives in lubricants. Thus, mineral and synthetic lubricating oils, and their mixtures, which contain 0.001 to 5% by weight, based on the lubricant, and preferably 0.02 to 3% by weight, of a compound of the formula I have excellent high-pressure lubricating properties which become apparent from greatly reduced wear phenomena on the friction components to be lubricated. The lubricants in question are familiar to those skilled in the art. Examples of such lubricants are to be found, for example, in "Schmiermittel Taschenbuch" ("Lubricants Pocketbook") (Huthig Verlag, Heidelberg, 1974).

The lubricating oil preparation can additionally contain other additives which are added in order to improve certain basic oil properties, such as antioxidants, metal deactivators, rust inhibitors, agents for improving the viscosity index, pour-point depressants, dispersent-detergents and other additives for protection against wear.

Examples of antioxidants are:

(a) Alkylated and non-alkylated aromatic amines and mixtures thereof, for example: dioctyldiphenylamine, mono-tert.-octylphenyl-α-naphthylamine and mono-tert.-octylphenyl-β-naphthylamine, phenothiazine, dioctylphenothiazine, phenyl-α-naphthylamine and N,N'-di-sec.-butyl-p-phenylenediamine.

(b) Sterically hindered phenols, for example 2,6-di-tert.-butyl-p-cresol, 4,4'-bis-(2,6-diisopropylphenol), 2,4,6-triisopropylphenol, 2,2'-thio-bis-(4-methyl-6-tert.-butylphenol) and 4,4'-methylene-bis-(2,6-di-tert.-butylphenol).

(c) Alkyl, aryl or alkaryl phosphites, for example: trinonyl phosphite, triphenyl phosphite and diphenyl decyl phosphite.

(d) Esters of thiodipropionic acid or thiodiacetic acid, for example: dilauryl thiodipropionate or dioctyl thiodiacetate.

(e) Salts of carbamic and dithiophosphoric acids, for example: antimony diamyldithiocarbamate and zinc diamyldithiophosphate.

(f) Combinations of two or more of the above antioxidants, for example: an alkylated amine and a sterically hindered phenol.

Examples of metal deactivators are:

(a) For copper, for example benzotriazole, tetrahydrobenzotriazole, 2-mercaptobenzothiazole, 2,5-dimercaptothiadiazole, salicylidenepropylenediamine and salts of salicylaminoguanidine.

(b) For lead, for example sebacic acid derivatives, quinizarin and propyl gallate.

(c) Combinations of two or more of the above additives.

Examples of rust inhibitors are:

(a) Organic acids and their esters, metal salts and anhydrides, for example: N-oleoyl-sarcosine, sorbitan monooleate, lead naphthenate and dodecenyl-succinic anhydride.

(b) Nitrogen-containing compounds, for example:

I. Primary, secondary or tertiary aliphatic or cycloaliphatic amines, and amine salts of organic and inorganic acids, for example oil-soluble alkylammonium carboxylates.

II. Heterocyclic compounds, for example: substituted imidazolines and oxazolines.

(c) Phosphorus-containing compounds, for example: amine salts of phosphoric acid partial esters.

(d) Sulfur-containing compounds, for example: barium dinonylnaphthalene-sulfonate and calcium petroleum-sulfonate.

(e) Combinations of two or more of the above additives.

Examples of agents for improving the viscosity index are: polymethacrylates, vinylpyrrolidone/methacrylate copolymers, polybutenes, olefin copolymers and styryl/acrylate copolymers.

Examples of pour-point depressants are: polymethacrylates and alkylated naphthalene derivatives.

Examples of dispersants/detergents are: polybutenylsuccinic acid imides, polybutenylphosphonic acid derivatives, and superbasic magnesium, calcium and barium sulfonates and phenolates.

Examples of other additives for protection against wear are: compounds containing sulfur and/or phosphorus and/or halogen, such as sulfurised vegetable oils, zinc dialkyldithiophosphates, tritolyl phosphate, chlorinated paraffins and alkyl and aryl disulfides.

The following examples illustrate the invention.

EXAMPLE 1 Stabilisation of acrylonitrile/butadiene/styrene (ABS)

0.7 g of 2-ethyl-n-hexyl 3,5-di-tert.-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl-mercapto-acetate is dissolved in 40 ml of hexane. The solution is added to a dispersion of 100 g of ABS in 600 g of water, with vigorous stirring. The antioxidant solution is completely absorbed by the ABS in a short time (1 minute). The ABS powder is filtered off with suction and dried in vacuo for 40 hours at 40° C. 2% of titanium dioxide (pigment) and 1% of ethylene-bisstearic acid amide (lubricant) are added to the dry powder. The mixture is then compounded for 4 minutes on a two-roll mill at 180° C. The rolling hide is pressed at 175° C. to form a 0.8 mm thick plate, from which test pieces of dimensions 45×17 mm are stamped.

The plate without the compound according to the invention is produced in the same way.

The effectiveness of the additive added is tested by heat ageing in a circulating air oven at 200° C. The colour development after a testing period of 30 minutes is used as the criterion. The colour intensity is quantified with the "Yellowness Index" according to ASTM D 1925. Higher numbers denote a more intense yellow impression. The experiments show that the colour development is effectively suppressed by the additive added.

    ______________________________________                                                         Yellowness Index                                                               after 30 minutes                                               ______________________________________                                         Without stabiliser                                                                               47                                                           0.7% of 2-ethyl-n-hexyl                                                        3,5-di-tert.-butyl-4-                                                                            36                                                           hydroxybenzyl-mercapto-                                                        acetate                                                                        ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 2 Stabilisation of polybutadiene rubber

100 parts of polybutadiene which has been stabilised beforehand with 0.36% of 2,6-di-tert.-butyl-p-cresol are kneaded for 30 minutes in a Brabender plastograph, at 150° C. and 60 rpm, together with 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2% of 2-ethyl-n-hexyl 3,5-di-tert.-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl-mercapto-acetate.

The gel content of the material found after processing in the Brabender plastograph is used as the criterion for the effectiveness of the additive added. This gel content is determined as follows:

1 gram of polybutadiene is dissolved in 100 ml of toluene overnight, at room temperature. The solution is filtered through glass wool and the filtered solution is evaporated to dryness. The gel content is given by: ##EQU1## E=weighed portion (1 gram) A=weight of the evaporation residue

The experiment shows the effective suppression, by the additive added, of gel development during processing.

    ______________________________________                                                            Gel content %                                               ______________________________________                                         Without stabiliser   50                                                        2-Ethyl-n-hexyl 3,5-di-tert.-                                                  butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl-mercapto-                                                acetate                                                                        0.05%                22                                                        0.1%                 12                                                        0.2%                 5                                                         ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 3 Stabilisation of polybutadiene rubber

100 parts of polybutadiene which has been stabilised beforehand with 0.36% of 2,6-di-tert.-butyl-p-cresol are plasticised for 6 minutes in a two-roll mill, at 50° C., together with 0.1 or 0.2%, respectively, of 2-ethyl-n-hexyl 3,5-di-tert.-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl-mercapto-acetate.

The rolling hides are pressed at 60° C. to form 10 mm thick plates. The plate without the compound according to the invention is produced in the same way.

The effectiveness of the additive added is tested by heat ageing in a circulating air oven at 80° C. The gel content found during ageing in the oven is used as the criterion. (Determination as in Example 2.) After an induction period, the gel content rapidly increases. The time after which a gel content of 5% has been reached is used as an arbitrary definition of the induction period.

The experiment shows that the induction times can effectively be prolonged by the additive added.

    ______________________________________                                                          Induction time in weeks                                                        until 5% of gel has                                                            been reached                                                  ______________________________________                                         Without additive   3                                                           2-Ethyl-n-hexyl 3,5-di-tert.-                                                  butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl-mercapto-                                                acetate                                                                        0.1%               7                                                           0.2%               11                                                          ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 4 Stabilisation of polybutadiene rubber

The procedure of Example 3 is repeated, except that the material used contains no stabiliser from manufacture.

The time after which a gel content of 1% has been reached is defined as the induction period.

    ______________________________________                                                           Induction time in days                                                         until 1% of gel has                                                            been reached                                                 ______________________________________                                         Without stabiliser  10                                                         2-Ethyl-n-hexyl 3,5-di-tert.-                                                  butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl-mercapto-                                                acetate                                                                        0.2%                48                                                         ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 5 Stabilisation of polybutadiene rubber

The test pieces of Example 4 are additionally aged by immersion in silicone oil at 160° C. for 20 minutes. The gel content at the end of the ageing is used as the criterion.

The experiments show the effective suppression, by the additive added, of gel development during ageing.

    ______________________________________                                                         Gel content %                                                  ______________________________________                                         Without additive  88                                                           0.2% of 2-ethyl-n-hexyl                                                        3,5-di-tert.-butyl-4-hydroxy-                                                  benzyl-mercapto-acetate                                                                          6                                                            ______________________________________                                    

The subject of the invention "Compounds of the formula III" is illustrated in greater detail in Example 6.

EXAMPLES 6 to 14

Substrate: prestabilised BR Solprene 250® (Phillips Petroleum).

Incorporation and sample production:

The additives are incorporated at 50° C. in a roll mill. 2 mm and 10 mm plates are then pressed at 80° C. in a hydraulic heating press.

Ageing procedures

(a) Ageing in an oven at 80° C. with 10 mm plates in a HORO circulating air oven; periodic determination of the gel at room temperature in toluene.

(b) Ageing in a Brabender plasticorder at 160° C. and 60 rpm for 30 minutes. Determination of the induction time (T_(ind)) in minutes (time until the torsional moment rises 100 meterpond above the minimum); gel determination in toluene after ageing; colour measurement of 2 mm samples of the aged material.

(c) Ageing of 2 mm samples at 160° C. for 30 minutes in silicone oil; determination of the gel content at room temperature in toluene.

(d) Determination of the coloration by measurement of the Yellowness Index according to ASTM D 1925-70, during 10-week storage of 2 mm samples (A) in diffuse daylight, (B) in the dark and (C) at 80° C. in a circulating air oven.

    __________________________________________________________________________     Results of the ageing experiments                                                                                                  Maximum                                                  Oven           Gel in %                                                                              Yellowness Index                                         80° C.                                                                       Brabender 160° C.,                                                                after ageing                                                                          for 10-week                Exam-                     Concen-                                                                            Weeks                                                                               60 rpm, 30 minutes                                                                       in silicone                                                                           storage                    ple                       tration                                                                            until gel                                                                           T.sub.ind                                                                           Gel  oil at 160° C.,                                                                Day-                                                                              Dark-                                                                              Oven,               No. Stabiliser            %   >5%  (minutes)                                                                           %  YI                                                                               30 minutes                                                                            light                                                                             ness                                                                               80°          __________________________________________________________________________                                                                C.                       ##STR10##            0.1 0.25 0.5                                                                       8 13 16                                                                             11.3 14.8 17.5                                                                      43 29 19                                                                          31 25 16                                                                         4.8 4.4 2.8                                                                           9 9  9                                                                            9 8 9                                                                              110 34 17           7                                                                                   ##STR11##            0.1 0.25 0.5                                                                       8 10 12                                                                             9.3 8.5 8.0                                                                         50 43 47                                                                          28 34 32                                                                         4.9 4.3 2.2                                                                           10 11 9                                                                           10 9 10                                                                            98 36 27            8                                                                                   ##STR12##            0.1 0.25 0.5                                                                       7 7 7                                                                               9.3 6.5 5.8                                                                         51 48 51                                                                          33 38 38                                                                         7.4 5.1 3.4                                                                           10 10 9                                                                           9 9 9                                                                              108 35 27           9                                                                                   ##STR13##            0.1 0.25 0.5                                                                       8 12 16                                                                             10.8 12.5 14.0                                                                      47 37 21                                                                          29 27 25                                                                         9.4 5.6 3.1                                                                           10 11 10                                                                          11 10 8                                                                            128 83 20           10                                                                                  ##STR14##            0.1 0.25 0.5                                                                       8 9 8                                                                               8.3 9.5 9.0                                                                         51 47 45                                                                          30 32 31                                                                         11.4 4.3 1.2                                                                          8 9 11                                                                            11 11 10                                                                           101 75 34           11                                                                                  ##STR15##            0.1 0.25 0.5                                                                       6 6 7                                                                               7.8 6.8 7.3                                                                         55 59 56                                                                          37 37 37                                                                         11.5 9.2 9.6                                                                          13 13 14                                                                          15 14 14                                                                           100 76 33           12                                                                                  ##STR16##            0.1 0.25 0.5                                                                       6 8 12                                                                              11.5 11.5 11.0                                                                      53 52 52                                                                          29 32 35                                                                         2.0 1.2 0.7                                                                           11 12 12                                                                          9 10 9                                                                             115 59 25           13                                                                                  ##STR17##            0.1 0.25 0.5                                                                       8 9 10                                                                              9.5  9.5 9.5                                                                        47 51 50                                                                          30 32 31                                                                         2.2 0.5 0.2                                                                           10 10 12                                                                          10 11 12                                                                           96 30 23            14                                                                                  ##STR18##            0.5 13   15.5 11 25                                                                               3.3    -(2)                                                                              -(2)                                                                               25                      without (control)     --  6    8.8  58 33                                                                               12.3   10 8   102                 __________________________________________________________________________      ##STR19##                                                                      (2) not tested                                                           

EXAMPLE 14

Action of 2-ethyl-n-hexyl 3,5-di-tert.-butyl4-hydroxy-benzyl-mercapto-acetate in prestabilised polyisoprene.

Substrate: Cariflex IR 305® (contains about 0.13% of BHT) (Shell)

Incorporation: Roll mill at 60° C.

Sample production: 10 mm thick plates pressed at 90° C. for 15 minutes:

Ageing: Circulating air oven at 70° C.

Ageing criterion: Change in the Mooney viscosity (decrease).

    ______________________________________                                                     Mooney viscosity ML 1' + 4' (100° C.)                                   after days                                                                     0   7        14    21    28  35                                    ______________________________________                                         Without stabilizer                                                                           69    49       36  25                                            0.2% of stabilizer                                                                           69    60       50  50    41  39                                  ______________________________________                                    

EXAMPLE 15

Action of 2-ethyl-n-hexyl 3,5-di-tert.-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl-mercapto-acetate in unstabilised SBR polymerised in emulsion.

Substrate: Polysar® SBR latex polymerised in emulsion (Shell)

Incorporation: Dissolution of the stabilisers in a small amount of acetone and careful incorporation into the latex by stirring.

Coagulation: Dropwise addition of the latex to 0.35% aqueous CaCl₂ solution at 90° C., with vigorous stirring; washing twice with distilled water; drying in vacuo at 40° C. Sample production: 10 mm thick plates pressed at 80° C. for 15 minutes.

Ageing: Oven at 80° C.

Ageing criterion: Increase in the Mooney viscosity.

    ______________________________________                                                      Mooney viscosity ML 1' + 4' (100° C.)                                   after weeks                                                                    0    1      2      3    4   5   6                                 ______________________________________                                         Without stabiliser                                                                            55     60     68   94                                           0.3% of the stabiliser                                                         indicated above                                                                               54     53     52        55  55  74                              0.3% of Wingstay L ® (1)                                                                  54     55     61   72   85                                      1.25% of Wingstay S ® (2)                                                                 56     80     92   107                                          0.75% of Naugawhite                                                            liq ® (3)  56     53     58   65   78  85                                  ______________________________________                                          (1) Stabilizer based on hindered phenols, from Goodyear.                       (2) Phenolstyrene stabilizer from Goodyear.                                    (3) Alkylbis-phenol in a carrier, from Naugatuck.                        

EXAMPLE 16

Action of 2-ethyl-n-hexyl 3,5-di-tert.-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl-mercapto-acetate in an SBS shoe sole compound.

    ______________________________________                                         Formulation:                                                                             SBS Europrene T 171 ® (100 parts of SBS +                                  50 parts of oil) from                                                Anic:               150    parts by weight                                     Kristallpolystyrol N                                                           168 ® (BASF)    30     " " "                                               Oel Talpa 945 ® (Shell)                                                                        20     " " "                                               Ultrasil VN 3 ® (Bayer)                                                                        10     " " "                                               ______________________________________                                    

Preparation of the mixture and incorporation of the stabilisers: in a mill at 160° C.

Sample production: Pressing of 0.5 mm plates at 130° C., 10 minutes; stamping out of ISO S 2 dumb-bell test bars.

Ageing: Cell-type oven at 70° C.

Test: Determination of tensile strength (kp/cm²) and elongation (%) by a tensile test.

    __________________________________________________________________________                  Tensile strength in kp/cm.sup.2                                                after weeks  Elongation in % after weeks                          Stabilizer   0  4  6  10                                                                               14                                                                               0  4  6  10 14                                       __________________________________________________________________________     without      101                                                                               30        640                                                                               300                                               0.2% of the above stabiliser                                                                110                                                                               101                                                                               99 96                                                                               83                                                                               650                                                                               600                                                                               585                                                                               570                                                                               550                                      0.2% of methyl 3,4-di-tert.-                                                   butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl-                                                         mercapto-acetate                                                                            104                                                                               100                                                                               99 88                                                                               80                                                                               620                                                                               600                                                                               590                                                                               530                                                                               520                                      0.4% of Topanol OC ®                                                       0.8% of trinonylphenyl                                                         phosphite    95 78 64 40  620                                                                               252                                                                               465                                                                               330                                         __________________________________________________________________________

The subject of the invention "Compounds of the formula III" is illustrated in greater detail in Example 17.

EXAMPLE 17 2-Ethyl-n-hexyl 3,5-di-tert.-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl-mercapto-acetate

26.3 g of 2,6-di-tert.-butylbenzyl-dimethylamine, 20.4 g of the ethyl-n-hexyl ester of thioglycol and 50 ml of dimethylformamide are heated for 2 hours at 120° C. under nitrogen, with stirring. Dimethylamine escapes. In the thin layer chromatogram (TLC), virtually no further educts can then be detected. The solvent is removed in vacuo and the viscous residue is dissolved in 100 ml of ligroin. After washing with water, the dried ligroin solution is decolorised by treatment with 1 g of "Hyflow Supercel" kieselguhr (Jons Manville Sales Corp.) and filtered until the filtrate is clear, and the solvent is removed in vacuo.

This yields 38.5 g of the product of this example, in the form of an almost colourless, viscous oil, which solidifies to form crystals on prolonged standing at about 20° C. and which is defined by elementary analysis and TLC. Result of the elementary analysis: C₂₅ H₄₂ O₃ S (422.67)

C calculated 71.04; found 71.00; H calculated 10.02; found 9.90; S calculated 7.59; found 7.70.

EXAMPLE 18

The oil oxidation test, standard version according to ASTM D 2272 (Rotary Bomb Oxidation Test), is carried out in the following way. An oil sample of 50 ml of Vitrea 100® mineral oil from SHELL is oxidised in an oxygen atmosphere, in a glass vessel, together with 5 ml of distilled water and a polished, catalytically active Cu spiral washed with petroleum ether, 0.25 g of the stabiliser according to Example 17 being added.

The glass vessel is in a stainless steel bomb with a manometer. The bomb rotates axially at 100 rpm, at an angle of 30° to the horizontal, in an oil bath at 150° C. The oxygen pressure is initially about 6 bars, before heating, increases to exactly 14 bars at 150° C. and remains constant until oxidation has started. The test has ended when there has been a pressure decrease of 1.7 bars. The time is recorded in minutes.

Result

    ______________________________________                                                          Minutes until pressure                                        Stabilizer       decrease of 1.7 bars                                          ______________________________________                                         without          16                                                            according to Example i7                                                                         101                                                           ______________________________________                                    

Example 19

The oil oxidation test is carried out in a modified version according to IP 280, i.e. "CIGRE".

Conditions

Introduction of oxygen for 4 hours at 150° C. (4 litres of O₂ /hour).

Determination of the acid number after the test has ended; tabulated value: mg of KOH consumed per g of test oil.

Stabiliser concentration: 0.5% by weight

Test oil: "Vitrea 100" mineral oil from SHELL.

Result:

    ______________________________________                                         Stabiliser        mg of KOH/g                                                  ______________________________________                                         without           3.6                                                          according to Example 17                                                                          0.59                                                         ______________________________________                                     

What is claimed is:
 1. Stabilised composition characterized by incorporating into synthetic elastomers selected from the group consisting of polybutadiene, polyisoprene, polychloroprene, styrene/butadiene/styrene block polymers, styrene/isoprene/styrene block polymers, styrene/(ethylene-propylene)/ styrene block polymers and acrylonitrile/butadiene polymers 0.01 to 10%, based on the total weight of the material to be stabilised, of a phenol-mercapto-carboxylic acid ester of the formula IV ##STR20## wherein R is C₈ -C₁₃ alkyl.
 2. Stabilised composition according to claim 1, in which R is 2-ethylhexyl.
 3. Stabilised composition according to claim 1, in which R is isotridecyl. 